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360 South Street Car Wash (Ortonville, Oakland County)

360 South Street Car Wash (Ortonville, Oakland County)

Disclaimer
Web content may not routinely be updated on this page. Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of the site.
Content posted June 2022.

EGLE Site Lead

Kevin Wojciechowski, WojciechowskiK@Michigan.gov, 586-623-2948.

Background

The 360 South Street Car Wash in Ortonville is a four-bay, self-serve car wash open to the public from late March through mid-November each year. Wash water generated at the car wash flows through four settling tanks, operated in series, before being discharged to the groundwater. During the operating season, wash water from the final settling tank is discharged to the groundwater via spray irrigation. When the system is winterized, any flow from the final settling tank is directed to a seepage pond that discharges to the groundwater. To date, the car wash has not been issued a state Groundwater Discharge Permit.  EGLE is working with the car wash to address the unpermitted groundwater discharge.

As part of a statewide sampling effort, EGLE sampled the onsite well water (i.e., influent), the wash water in the final settling tank (i.e., effluent), and two groundwater monitoring wells for PFAS at the car wash in Fall 2021.

Estimated groundwater flow direction is to the east.

360 South Street Car Wash Map

Recent Accomplishments

  • On November 10, 2021, EGLE contractors sampled the on-site well water (i.e., influent), the wash water in the final settling tank (i.e., effluent), and two groundwater monitoring wells for PFAS at the car wash as part of a statewide sampling effort.
  • On January 3, 2022, EGLE received the sample results. Two groundwater monitoring wells exceeded groundwater cleanup criteria for PFOA, and one also exceeded groundwater cleanup criteria for PFOS. The highest result was 22.3 ppt PFOA and 50.9 ppt PFOS.

Next Steps

  • EGLE will continue to work with the 360 South Street Car Wash to determine the extent of PFAS contamination in groundwater on-site as well as identify and reduce or eliminate potential sources of PFAS at the car wash.
  • EGLE, MDHHS, and the Oakland County Health Department are working to identify nearby residential wells and determine if sampling for PFAS is needed.
  • EGLE will continue to work with the 360 South Street Car Wash to address the unpermitted groundwater discharge.

Residential Well Sampling / Alternative Water Information

  • EGLE, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and the Oakland County Health Department are working to identify nearby residential wells and determine if sampling for PFAS is needed.

Upcoming Community Engagement

  • None scheduled at this time.

Sampling Results Summary

Type of Sample

Date Sampled
(or range)

Number of Sample Results Received

Number of Samples above Criteria

Groundwater Monitoring Wells

November 10, 2021

2

2

* Residential well and groundwater monitoring well results are compared to EGLE Part 201 criteria for 7 PFAS compounds effective 12/21/2020:  PFOS (16 ppt), PFOA (8 ppt), PFNA (6 ppt), PFHxS (51 ppt), PFHxA (400,000 ppt), PFBS (420 ppt), and HFPO-DA (370 ppt).

Sampling Notes

  • None at this time.